Kenyon College vs Oberlin College

Kenyon College is the more selective of the two at 31%, versus 34% at Oberlin College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Kenyon College
Selective
31%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1420
Private · Ohio
Oberlin College
Selective
34%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1430
Private · Ohio

Kenyon College vs Oberlin College: the differences that matter

How Kenyon College and Oberlin College stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Kenyon College is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 31% of applicants versus 34% at Oberlin College, a gap of roughly 3 percentage points. Treat Kenyon College as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Kenyon College leans more on standardized test scores, alumni / legacy relation, geographical residence, while Oberlin College puts more weight on recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent / ability. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Kenyon College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1420 and Oberlin College's is around 1430. Admitted students at Oberlin College post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorKenyon CollegeOberlin College
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Standardized test scoresimportantconsidered
Application essayvery importantvery important
Recommendationsimportantvery important
Extracurricular activitiesimportantvery important
Talent / abilityimportantvery important
Character / personal qualitiesvery importantvery important
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Kenyon College or Oberlin College harder to get into?

Kenyon College is harder to get into, with a 31% acceptance rate versus 34% at Oberlin College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Kenyon College and Oberlin College?

Kenyon College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1420, and Oberlin College's is around 1430.

What are my chances at Kenyon College and Oberlin College?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.